Hyderabad, Dec 28 (UNI) The number of child labourers has declined by 49 per cent in Andhra Pradesh, State Directorate of Economic and Statistics Director Saroja Rama Rao said today.

Talking to newspersons here, Ms Rao said the number of child labourers had declined to 2.2 lakh from 5.11 lakh in the state. It had declined by 49 per cent during the fifth economic census 2005, as compared to fourth economic census conducted in 1998, she added.

Stating that 112.02 lakh people were employed in 39.97 lakh enterprises engaged in different economic activities, as against 75.12 lakh people in 29 lakh enterprises in fourth economic census, she said out of the 112.02 lakh, 37.31 lakh people were working in own account enterprises and 74.71 lakh in establishments.

Out of 39.97 lakh enterprises located in the State, 26.44 lakh were own account enterprises and 13.53 lakh were establishments. Out of total enterprises, 28.48 lakh enterprises were located in rural areas and 11.49 lakh in urban areas.

She said the major activity group in non-agriculture enterprises was retail trade, constituting 11.37 lakh with a work force of 26.24 lakh.

Women employment had increased to 35 lakh from 19 lakh, she said, adding, about 39.94 per cent women work force was in agriculture enterprises and their contribution in rural sector was 40.18 per cent, as against 33.58 per cent in fourth economic census.

The unorganised sector had grown to 12 per cent, contributing four per cent of the state GSDP, she added.

UNI